Your Favorite Pie Recipes — No Guilt Included!

Mmmm ... pie. Most Thanksgiving tables are replete with several tantalizing options, and the temptation can be to just dig in. But if you want to avoid the fate of the average American (who consumes 3,500
calories on this one day), we have good news: With some tips and tricks, it is indeed possible to have your pie and eat it too.

Willow Jarosh and Stephanie Clarke, contributing editors at SELF and co-founders of C&J Nutrition, offer up some tips for cutting the guilt but none of the enjoyment.

Of course, the easiest way to slash your calorie and fat intake at pie time is to — yes, we’re going to say it — go sans a la mode. Even a quarter cup of premium ice cream, Jarosh and Clarke note, can add upward of 140 calories to your dessert plate (and usually you get at least twice that amount on a slice of pie).

“Skip the ice cream — and the whipped cream too — and opt to really enjoy the flavor of your pie,” they recommend. “If you want an added kick, sprinkle a little cinnamon over the top.”

Pumpkin

So which pie is the most waistline-friendly? Jarosh and Clarke advise sticking with single-crust treats — pumpkin being one of the lower-calorie choices. Two great choices: pumpkin pie with low-butter crust; and, for something a little different — tres cute (and tasty) pumpkin pie cupcakes. (Is anybody else hungry?)

Apple

If apple’s your thing, consider this: One slice of regular apple pie can contain up to 480 calories, 22 grams of fat and 35 grams of sugar (and that’s without whipped cream!).

Another great option, they say, is to make cobbler — toss fresh apple slices with cinnamon and brown sugar and top with a mixture of oats, whole wheat flour, butter and spices. “Not only do you get less ‘crust’ than a traditional pie,” they say, “but the topping is mostly whole grain oats!”

Jarosh and Clarke also recommend baking apples stuffed with the same oat/flour/spice/butter mixture you use for cobbler. These treats are pre-portioned to make serving a cinch (each person gets one apple) and, they say, “you can even include a little (about 1/4-1/2 cup) light vanilla ice cream without going overboard in calories.”

Pecan

But what if it just doesn’t seem like Thanksgiving without enjoying your mom’s famous double chocolate pecan pie o’ bliss? Rejoice! Though Jarosh and Clarke say pecan pie tends to have the most calories of all, they add, “Our general tip to people is to choose a sliver of the pie you enjoy the most.”

That’s right. Eat the pie! But when you eat (your sliver of) the pie, really enjoy it — don’t just mindlessly gobble it down because that’s what’s supposed to happen post-Turkey and pre-Uncle Irv’s yearly rendition of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”

“Eat it slowly and truly savor it,” advise Clarke and Jarosh. “Choosing something you really enjoy and having a small portion paired with tea or coffee can help you feel more satisfied with less food.”